Laser welding of Al6061 alloy with dynamic beam shape
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Modern laser systems can greatly enhance the technological capabilities of welding processes. This paper examines the laser welding of the Aluminum 6061 alloy using a 14 kW fiber laser equipped with Optical Phase Array (OPA) technology, which allows for dynamic beam shaping at frequencies ranging from 1 to several hundred kHz. The study investigates different beam shape oscillation frequencies to identify optimal conditions that reduce welding defects. The “line” shape performed exceptionally well, achieving defect-free welds at a speed of 190 mm/s. Microstructural analysis of the weld/HAZ zone, which included optical microscopy and SEM/EBSD, revealed refined grains with morphological and crystallographic texture decreasing with increasing laser scan speed. The microstructural evaluation was conducted according to ISO 13919-2 and AWS D1.2 standards. The tensile strength reached 70-80% of the base material without the use of filler due to reduced defects and optimized energy distribution. These findings underscore the potential of the dynamic beam shape for producing high-quality welds in Aluminum 6061 for structural applications.
Authors: Aleksey Kovalevsky, Denis Baulin, Nina Armon, Shmuel Ariely, Keren Zohar-Hauber, Alexander Katz-Demyanetz
Institution: Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4415753441